Hundreds of Toddlers Taken Into Custody After Crossing the Border Alone

Some of them are under 1 year old.

More than 350 kids ages 2 or younger have been apprehended by the U.S Border Patrol while crossing into the United States illegally between October 1, 2013, and June 11, 2014. Ninety-five of them are under 1 year old.

"We're seeing more babies and toddlers than we had in the past," Emily Butera, a senior program officer at the Women's Refugee Commission, told Fusion.

According to Butera, many of the younger kids are sent across the border with older siblings or even paid smugglers.

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"Apprehending infants and children can be difficult for Border Patrol agents. Our facilities are not designed with people that young in mind," Shawn Moran, a spokesperson for the National Border Patrol Council, told Fusion. "We often have minimal amounts of diapers, formula, and other items for the care of infants and toddlers."

In response to what has been called an "urgent humanitarian situation" by President Barack Obama, the White House announced Friday plans for major changes to beef up enforcement of existing immigration laws. These changes will include the creation of new detention centers suitable to house adults with children, as well as the implementation of alternatives to detention, such as electronic monitoring devices, to track migrants who are released from custody. Vice President Joe Biden met with Central American leaders in Guatemala on Friday to emphasize that children who illegally cross the border alone or accompanied by adults, and adults who illegally cross the border with their children, are not eligible to participate in the passage of immigration reform legislation or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process, regardless of their age.